Albany, N.Y. (2/27/13) – The Kean University men's volleyball team improved to 7-1 in Skyline Conference play as they topped host The Sage Colleges in straight sets on Wednesday evening.
Senior Steve Vahalla and sophomore Ed Jedziniak each tallied 12 kills for Kean as the Cougars improve to 10-6 overall. The Gators (13-3, 5-2 Skyline) were led by sophomore Andy Fishman who collected 13 kills. Of the Gators three losses this season, two have come on the hands of the Cougars.
After an early see-saw battle in the opening set, sophomore Kyle Farley recorded three points on serve, with two aces, to push a one point advantage into a 15-12 lead. The Cougars closed out the set with three straight points, included assisted blocks from Vahalla, Farley and sophomore Alex Barnhard, taking set one, 25-17.
Sophomore John Cunningham recorded a kill off his own serve to earn the first point in the second set as the Cougars never trailed in set #2. Kean would push their lead to as many as six on five occasions. Sage hung in there, and pulled to within two (18-20) with senior Spencer Hilland serving, but that would be as close as they would get as Kean finished off the set winning, 25-20.
The Cougars once again scored the first point in what would be the final set and never trailed. Kean would record 17 kills in the set, including seven off of nine swings from Jedziniak, earning the 25-19 set win.
Farley led all players with five total blocks on the night, while Barnhard (pictured left) chipped in with three. Barnhard also added a match-high 35 assists. Jedziniak recorded two blocks with tallying a .750 attack percentage (12 kills on 16 attempts).
Kean will square off against Yeshiva University and NYU-Poly on Sunday, March 3rd in Skyline Conference action at Yeshiva.
